Latch mechanism for cold storage doors and the like



July 9, 1940- G. P. wxLD 2,207,568

LATCH MECHANISM FOR COLD STORAGE DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1938HQE.

/04c INVENTOR GNTHER PH/L/P W/LD.

f BY

ATTORN EY Patented July- 9, 1940 UNITED STATES LATCH MEcnANrsM Fon. connSTORAGE noons AND 'mn LIKE Gunther Philip Wild, Philadelphia, Pa.,assigner to C. V. Hill & Company, Incorporated, Trenton, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application my s, 193s, semi No. 206,193

7 claims. (c1. 2oz-11o) n This invention relates to cold storagechambers, refrigerators and like constructions having a door for closingthe entrance thereto and particularly to latch mechanism for retainingsuch doors in closed position and operating means for the latchmechanism.

'I'he doors employed on cold storage chambers, walk-in refrigerators andsimilar structures are made'thick enough to carry the necessary inl04sulation and therefore generally are very heavy. It also is customary toprovide sealing means in the form of a gasket between the door and frameto 4seal the space therebetween when the door is closed.

` Formerly the sealing means employed for this purpose were formed ofrelatively stiff or dense material so that considerable force wasrequired to compress the sealing means sumciently to insure propersealing of the space between the l0 door and frame. It was thereforenecessary to use relatively heavy and powerful latch mechanism or camelements to urge and hold the door closed and in sealing relation withthe frame. Complicated and powerful actuatingmeans were required foroperating such latch mechanism and therefore the hardware necessary foruse on cold storage doors was expensive to construct and install, bulkyand unsightly in appearance and diiilcult to operate.

3 The relatively soft and resilient sealing means now available for userender it unnecessary to urge the door so forceably toward the frame toinsure the desired sealing thereof. However, but little if any..changehas been made in the type of latch mechanism employed on cold storagedoors. As a result the sealing means, althoughfunctioning satisfactorilywhen not tightly compressed, are subjected to heavy pressure and are sotightly compressed that the resiliency and life 4 oi' the material isdestroyed very quickly, decreasing its effectiveness and requiringfrequent replacement thereof. Moreover, the force applied to the latchmechanism and operating means tend to loosen the bolts or other securingAmeans s by which the latch mechanism is attached to the door or frameparticularly when the door is actuated frequently and over a long periodof time.

In accordance with the present invention, these objections toconstructions of the prior art are overcome by employing soft andresilient sealing means of the type now available for such pur- Yposesand providing latch means which serve simply to retain the door inclosed position with u the sealing means under little or no greatercompression than is necessary to insure proper sealing of the spacebetween the door and frame. The latch mechanism preferably is whollyconcealed and may be small and comparatively light in construction. Onlythe handle of the latch I operating means need be visible and but verylittle force is required to actuate the latch. Thus a construction isprovided which is attractive in appearance, inexpensive to construct andinstall and the life of the mechanism as wen as the life l of thesealing means employed is greatly increased.

While the elements employed in accordance with the present invention maytake various forms it is preferred that the frame of the door beprovided with a keeper, which may be adjustable to allow for wear orcompression of the sealiilg means, and a latch bolt is carried by thedoor and slidably movable into and out of engagement with the keeper.The keeper may be located on 9 the inner face of the frame and the boltmay be embedded in the door so that none of the latch mechanism isvisible and the moving parts thereof are protected from injuryv anddirt.

The operating means, only the handle of which 25 need be visible,preferably includes a wedge movable to retract the bolt against theaction of a spring. Because of the frictional resistance to retractionof the bolt when in engagement with the keeper, it is generallydesirable to form the wedge on the operating means with a relatively lowpitch so that the force required to move the wedge in retracting thelatch bolt is small. Means independent of the latch bolt such as a.spring serves to return the operating means to its inacu tive positionon release thereof.

Further since the mechanism is wholly enclosed and the doors to which itis applied are so thick that the mechanism is not accessible forlubrication it is also preferable to employ automatic lubricating meanstherefor which are operable over a period of'years to apply a limitedamount of lubricant to the movable parts of the construction as requiredto insure smooth and ready operation thereof. a

One of the objects of the invention is to provide cold storage doors,refrigerator doors and similar constructions with latch mechanism whichis relatively small and inexpensive to build and install and whichrequires but little force for operation. g

Another object of the invention is to decrease the cost and increase thelife of the latch mechanism and operatingmeans as well as the sealingmeans employed on cold storage doors and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide cold storage doors withlatch mechanism which is concealed from view and yet continuouslylubricated.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to theaccompanying figures of the drawing.

In the drawing: n

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a typical form of latchmechanism and operating means therefor embodying the present invention,the section being taken on the line I-I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1taken on the line 2-2 thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the construction of Fig. 1 takenon the line 3-3 thereof.

'Ihat form of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration in thegures of the drawing is applied to a cold storage chamber having a door2 and a frame 4 with a resilient and yieldable sealed strip or gasket 6extending about the marginal portion of the door and engageable with thedoor frame to seal the space between the door and frame. 'Ihe frame 4carries a keeper 8 engageable by a latch bolt l0 slidably carried by thedoor. The keeper is formed with an inclined face I2 engageable by thelatch bolt to retract the same on closing the door and a vertical facei4 behind which the bolt is projected to retain the door in closedposition. The keeper 8 is adjustably mounted on the door frame, so thatit may be moved readily inward from the position shown to hold the doorcloser to the frame and insure proper sealing of the space between thedoor and frame when the sealing means 6 is worn or compressed. For thispurpose the keeper is provided witha base plate it secured to the frameby a screw i8 or other suitable means, whereas the keeper carrying plate26 is adjustably secured in position on the base plate by means ofscrews or the like. The adjacent faces of the base plate i6 and keepercarrying plate 28 are formed with cooperating ratchet teeth 2l as shownfor holding the keeper carrying plate in any adjusted position to whichit may be moved.

The latch bolt i!! is slidably movable Within a tubular housing member22 located within a recess in the door concealed by a cover plate 2dthrough which the bolt projects. 'Ihe housing is formed on its outer endwith a projecting ange 26 which extends outward over the adjacentportion of the door and is held in place by screws 28 or the like.

. The housing is provided with an end member 36 having a slot 32 thereinthrough which the bolt I0 is slidably movable. 'I'he member 30 is heldin place by the portion 34 of the housing which is rolled into anannular groove in the end member. A similarly slotted member 36 islocated within the housing and spaced from the member 36 by a splitsleeve 38. Tongues 40 of the housing extend inwardly into recesses inthe edges of the member 36 to prevent dislocation thereof. The members30 and 36 serve to guide the latch bolt in its movement and provide anenclosure for lubricant carrying wicks 42 and 44 secured to the latchbolt and movable therewith. The wick 44 is positioned to project throughtransversely extending portions of the slot 46 in the. member 36 whenthe bolt is retracted whereas the wicks 42 are heavier and serve tosuppl:1

the wick 44 with a continuous supply of lubricant especially whendeformed by movement of the bolt.

The rear end of latch bolt I0 bears against a washer 48 behind which aspring 50 is located. The spring is maintained under compression by awasher 52 held in place by tongues 54 struck inward from the housingmember 22 at the innerK j end thereof. Lubricant carrying wicks 56 aresecured to the bolt l0 adjacent the rear edge 58 of a slot 60 in thebolt to lubricate the surface 62 of a wedge 64 carried by atransverselymovable operating rod 66.

The spring 50 normally tends to urge the latch bolt I0 outward intoengagement with the keeper 8' on the frame so that when the door isclosed the end of the latch bolt is in position to engage the inclinedface l 2 of the keeper and be cammed inward against the action of thespring 50 but when the sealing means 6 is suitably compressed the boltis again projected outward behind the vertical face I4 of the keeper 8to hold the door closed and the sealing means under the desiredcompression. When the door is opened outward movement of the bolt I0 islimited by engagement of the rear edge 58 of the slot 60 in the bolt I0with the surface 62 of the Wedge 64 on the operating rod.

Upon inward movement of the latch bolt the wick 44 carried thereby ismoved into position to engage and lubricate the surface 68 of theoperating rod which engages the rear face of member 36 whereas thesurface 62 of the wedge 64 is continuously lubricated by the wicks 56.In this way the mechanism although located in an inaccessible positionand concealed from view is provided with a limited but prolonged supplyof 1ubricant which serves to prevent waste of the lubricant andretention thereof for long periods of time. Furthermore, on actuation ofthe bolt the lubricant carrying wicks are deformed so that they expresslubricant therefrom onto elements of the mechanism. In this way thesupply of lubricant to the mechanism is varied in response to the needtherefor, the application of lubricant being increased on frequent useof the latch mechanism and reserved for later use when the mechanismremains idle.

The operating means shown for actuating the latch mechanism are locatedin a transversely extending opening 10; in the door and include anoperating rod 66 which passes through openings 12 in the tubular housing22 and through the slot 6l) 'in the latch bolt i0. The rod 66 isprovided on one end with a handle 14 which is formed with a shank I6secured to the rod and slidably movable through an opening in anescutcheon plate 78. A knob is secured to the opposite end oi" theoperating rod so that the rod may be actuated from either side of thedoor. 'I'he rod is guided in movement by the shank 16 on the handle 74and by the plate 82 which closes the inner end of opening 10 in thedoor. The knob 80 carried by the rod 66 is engageable with the plate 82to limit outward movement of the rod whereas inward movement thereof isHunted by engagement of the resilient bumpers 84 carried by the handlewith the outer face of the escutcheon plate 18. The bumpers 84 are heldin place by pins 86 formed with heads 88 which project into recesses inthe escutcheon plate. The bumpers may be easily applied and removed fromthe handle by simply forcing them over the enlarged heads 88 on the pins86 so that they may' be replaced readily without removing the handlefrom the operating rod.

.A spring 92 for urging rod 68 inward enclrcles the shank 16 of thehandle and bears against the escutcheon plate 18 at one end while theother end thereof bears against a recessed washer 94 abutting the end ofwedge 64.

The latch operating rod is provided `with a wedge 64 located within theslot 60 in 1the latch bolt and engaged by the portion 68 of the bolt atthe rear edge of the slot 60. The wedge is positioned with the lowportion of the surface 62 thereof engageable by the portion 68 of thelatch bolt, when the rod 66 is in its innermost position and the latchbolt is fully projected whereas on outward movement of the rod 66 theportion 68 of the bolt rides up to a high point on the wedge to retractthe bolt. Thus outward movement of the operating rod and wedge serves toretract the latch bolt I9 whereas on inward movement of the rod 66 thelatch bolt is projected by spring l0.

By forming the wedge 64 with the surface 62 thereof inclined at arelatively small angle to the operating rod the force required toretract the latch bolt is greatly decreased since the movement ,of theoperating rod is considerably greater than the movement of the latchbolt. Thus the latch bolt may be retracted readily even when subjectedto considerable frictional resistance. Moreover, the outward movement ofthe latch bolt takes place freely due to the action of spring 92 inurging the operating rod inward as soon as the handle is released. Inthis way the spring 50 is relieved of the burden of returning theoperating rod to its inactive position and all danger of the latch boltsticking or failing to be projected when the door is closed iseliminated. Pins 96 carried by the member 36 project inward therefromand serve as lateral bearing members for the rod 66.

The distance that the handle 14 and operating rod 66 is moved inretracting the bolt may be varied as desired and will depend upon theinclination of the surface 62 with respect to the rod 66. However, theforce required to actuate the rod is decreased by .the use of awedge-having a low pitch and therefore the pitch preferably is less thanand may be very much lower or about 20 or less as shown.

The handle employed preferably is formed with a recess 98 therein andthe escutcheon plate is formed with a projecing lug |00 extending-intothe recess. The handle and lug |00 are formed with aligned openings |02therethrough to receive a padlock |04 or other locking means so thateven the usual hasp and staple are eliminated and no hardware is visibleon the door except the handle itself. At the same time a construction isprovided which is easy to operate, simple in construction and much moreeconomical to produce and install than are the constructions of theprior art.

In assembling the device the parts are caused to assume alignedpositions automatically by inserting the rod 66 into the slot 60 in thelatch bolt and moving it inward until the edge 56 of the slot engagesthe surface 62 on the wedge. The spring then urges the opposite flatsurface 68 of the operating rod against the adjacent flat surface ofmember 36 holding the rod 66 in position while the pins 96 prevent therod from being displaced laterally. The plate 82 is then passed over theend of the operating rod and secured in position and the handle 14 andthe escutcheon plate 18 are secured in place at the opposite end of therod assuring perfect alignmentof the parts without the use of templatesor other means for locating the elements.

The operation of the mechanism described probably will be apparent fromthe foregoing description thereof.

When it is' desired to retract the latch bolt to open the door theoperator grasps the handle 14 and pulls it outward or pushes against theknob 80 on the inner side of the door to move the operating rod 66outward.) The wedge 64 carried bythe rod is thus moved upward as seen inFig. 1 or to the right as seen in Fig. 3, forcing the latch bolt l0inward by engagement of the surface 62 on the wedge with the rear edge68 of the slot 60 in the latch bolt. The latch bolt is thus retractedagainst the action of spring 69 and remains in retracted position aslong as the operator pulls on the handle 14 or pushes on the knob 80. Onrelease of the handle 14 or Aknob 80 the spring SZ moves the operatingrod 66 to the position shown in Fig. l allowing the latch bolt to beprojected under the action of the spring 50 and without resistance fromthe operating rod. When the door is closed and the latch bolt moves intoengagement with the inclined surface I2 of the keeper 8 it is cammedinward by the keeper against the action of spring 50 until the latchbolt has passed the vertical edge I4 of the keeper and the sealing means6 is suitably compressed. The spring 50 then projects the bolt to theposition shown in Fig. 1 to hold the door in closed position and retainthe sealing means 6 under substantially no more than sufficientcompression to insure proper sealing of the space between the door andthe frame.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the form of theinvention illustrated in the drawing that numerous changes in theconstruction and arrangement of the element employed may be. madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.- It shouldtherefore be understood that the form of the invention shown in thedrawing and herein described is intended to be illustrative of theinvention and is not intended to limit the scope thereof.

l.' claim:

l. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having aslidable latch bolt the combination of a housing within which said latchbolt is movable and lubricant carrying means within said housing forfurnishing a limited but prolonged supply of lubricant to an element ofsaid mechanism.

2. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having aslidable latch bolt and means movable to actuate said latch bolt thecombination of a housing within which said latch bolt and means aremovable and lubricant carrying means within said housing and engagingsaid means and bolt for furnishing a limited but prolonged supply oflubricant thereto.

3. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having aslidable latch bolt and means movable to actuate said latch bolt thecombination of a housing within which said latch bolt and means aremovable and lubricant carrying means actuated by an element of saidmechanism to apply lubricant onto said movable means.

4. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having aslidable latch bolt and means movable to actuate said latch bolt thecombination of a housing within which said latch 5 lubricant to saidmovable means.

5. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having aslidable latch holt and means movable to actuate said latch bolt thecombina,- tion of a. housing within which said latch bolt and means aremovable and a lubricant carrying wick located in said housing anddeformable upon movement of an element of said mechanism to dischargelubricant onto said movable means.

6. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like havingv alatch bolt and a wedge mov! able to actuate said latch bolt thecombination of lubricant carrying means engaging said wedge to furnish alimited but prolonged supply of lubricant toa surface of said wedge.

7. In latch mechanism for a cold storage door or the like having a latchbolt and a wedge movable to actuate said latch bolt the combination of alubricant carrying wick and means for deforming said Wick upon movementof said latch bolt to express lubricant therefrom onto an element ofsaid mechanism.

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